Super Bowl XLII Odds: Eli key for Giants

By Jordan Walters
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Sports Betting at WagerWeb Online Sportsbook

Just think, the last time the Patriots and Giants met, Eli Manning was an unproven, undependable quarterback.

Now he is the toast of the Big Apple.

Yes, Peyton's little brother is the main reason the Giants are in Super Bowl XLII with a chance to pull one of the biggest upsets in the game's history. Eli, who threw 20 interceptions to 23 touchdowns with a rating of only 73.9 during the regular season, has led Big Blue to three road playoff wins, completing 62.4 of his passes, four for touchdowns, none getting intercepted.

There's no question the player who "gets scrutinized more than anyone else in the country," according to Giants general manager Jerry Reese, has matured.

"He's been phenomenal," said Jared Lorenzen, Manning's backup. "He's always kept his cool. He's been level-headed.

""He is an even-keel guy, and that is one of the things that makes him the quarterback that he is," Giants receiver Amani Toomer said. "He can hold it together when a lot of people would crack and crumble.

"Manning's secret? "I deal with criticism and praise the same way,' he said this week."I ignore it. If the paper or the people on TV say that you're playing poorly or you're playing well, that doesn't make a difference and it doesn't change what you're going to do next week.

'And he knows that avoiding the turnovers that have plagued him in the past must not happen Sunday if the Giants have a chance. In these playoffs, Manning has thrown 85 passes without an interception.

 

"You can't give them turnovers," Manning said. "I just haven't made many mistakes. With the way our defense is playing, with the way we are running the ball, that is what it's going to take.

"The Giants haven't had an offensive turnover in these playoffs; the last NFL team without an offensive turnover in three straight playoff games was the Giants over the 1990 and 1991 postseasons, incidentally.

``(Eli) led the league in turnovers and he got that fixed,' Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel said. ``That's the thing that's enabled them to win games. You eliminate turnovers with the kind of defense they have and that's the reason for their turnaround.

"Kevin Gilbride, the Giants' offensive coordinator, said his pupil has gotten here due to hard work.

"The best analogy I can think of is hearing how he's mysteriously emerged over the last month,' Gilbride said. "You hear those Hollywood stars, the overnight sensations, you find out their life stories and they've been working anonymously for 12, 13 years.

From day one, Eli's always had a tremendous work ethic. He's always been as prepared as anyone I've ever been around.

"Eli's turnaround began in Week 17 against the same Patriots. No, the Giants didn't win. They couldn't maintain a 12-point lead and lost 38-35. But Manning threw four touchdown passes, and his elevated level
play has been something his team has fed off of.

"We couldn't do much to stop him, and he moved the ball up and down the field. We have a great deal of respect for Eli and what he's done, especially in the latter part of the season," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said.

That winning attitude always was there, Eli says."You always keep your confidence," Manning said. "You never change your attitude.

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